ON the road to recovery - a Teesside travel company is funding Darlington’s trip to Hayes and Yeading tonight.

ON the road to recovery - a Teesside travel company is funding Darlington’s trip to Hayes and Yeading tonight.

Quakers will travel for free - a saving of around £1,000 - in the Boro team coach, courtesy of Tees Valley Coach Travel.

The company provides travel for Boro and managing director, Ian Peacock, has joined the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group which hopes to help take the club out of administration and forge a bright new future as a community club. Major fundraising to make that happen is underway.

“I’m a Boro fan, but also a football fan, and I want to play my part in helping Darlington survive,” he said. “The way people have rallied round is amazing and it’s great to be part of it.

“I have never before seen anything like the last few days when everyone has pulled together.

“There’s a lot more work to be done. That’s why I am helping them out with the away game.

“I contacted the administrator Harvey Madden to see if I could help. He passed me on to the rescue group so I joined them. We pulled the money together to keep the club afloat at the 11th hour, and what has happened since will go down in club history.”

In the seven years since Tees Valley Coach Travel was formed, the company has grown from having one coach to 27.

Darlington manager Craig Liddle wants his makeshift side to build on Saturday’s fine performance against Fleetwood in a 1-0 defeat in front of a bumper crowd.

The youth team players will again be a key part of the squad, as Quakers are short of seniors.

Several players have left over the last few weeks because of the financial turmoil, and Adam Rundle is struggling after damaging his calf on Saturday.

And with left back Aaron Brown ruled out with a rib injury, at least one more young player will step into action. Phil Gray, who saw brief first team action last season, is likely to play.

Liddle said: “We came through a lot of emotions on Saturday, but if we play like that we can pick up points in our next couple of games, starting tonight.

“We have to put points on the board because we are in a battle against relegation.”

Quakers had 10 points deducted as soon as they went into administration, and with the loss of key players and a transfer embargo on the club, they are up against it.

But in adversity the bond among the players, staff and fans has never been greater.

Darlington are five points ahead of the Blue Square Premier drop zone, and tonight’s opponents, who play at Woking while their new ground is built, are second from bottom, six points behind Quakers.

They have won three home games this season, while Quakers have won three times on their travels.

Hartlepool have offered to play a fundraising game for Darlington at The Arena, but Quakers, under a transfer embargo, are struggling to raise the bodies to play their scheduled fixtures.